Sound translating apparatus



Nov. 28, 1961 R. F. FLEMING ETAL SOUND TRANSLATING APPARATUS Filed June19, 1959 INVENTORS RONALD F. FLEMING 8| GEORGE KERSHENBAUM ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,010,725 SOUND TRANSLATING APPARATUS Ronald F.Fleming, Farmingtou, and George Kershenbaum, West Hartford, Conn.,assignors to The Gray Manufacturing Company, a corporation ofConnecticut Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,467 5 Claims." (Cl.274-39) This invention relates to sound translating apparatus zfmdparticularly to an impulse circuit arrangement there- In conventionalsound translating equipment employing electromagnetic start-stopcontrols, a winding remains energized throughout the period that thecontrol switch assumes either its start or stop position. Suchconventional arrangements are entirely acceptable where the equipment isoperated on commercial power sources or other sources where it is notnecessary to conserve current. In connection with portable equipmenthowever, operated from a battery source, it is important to avoidunnecessary current consumption by the start-stop controls as well as byany of the other circuits of the equipment, since the useful life of thebattery constitutes a definite time limitation on the availability ofthe equipment for recording or reproducing.

In accordance. with the present invention, when the start-stop switch isactuated from either of its positions to the other, there will be but asingle pulse sutficient to shift'the start-stop means from one of itspositions to the other whereupon no further current will be consumeduntil the start-stop switch is actuated to produce the other condition.It is also contemplated that other circuits of the equipment becontrolled by the switch, such as any motor, amplifier and/or signallingcircuits. 'It is among the objects of the present invention to providein combination with sound translating apparatus having a' frame, a soundtranslating member, a record engaging member, a carriage supporting oneof the members for movement relative to the other, driving means forrelatively moving the members, and a source of current; a pair ofself-deenergizing electromagnets having a bistable armature system, andswitching means in circuit with the current source and electromagnetsfor alternatively energizing the electromagnets. The switching meanscontrols the start-stop means and/or one or more load circuits whichmight include any or all of a motor circuit, an amplifier circuit and asignalling circuit. The switching means preferably comprises a singlepole double throw switch having a common contact connected to thecurrent source and contacts in circuit with the windings of theelectromagnets respectively, alternatively engaged with the commoncontact. A load circuit may be connected in parallel with one or all ofthe electromagnets.

A start-stop device for the drive means of sound translating apparatuspreferably comprises an armature movable between two positions foractivating and deactivating the drive means respectively, a pair ofelectromagnets alternatively shifting the armature fiom one of thepositions to the other, each electromagnet having a winding connected toopposite poles of a single pole double throw switch, the switch having acommon pole connected to a source of current, and contact means actuatedby the armature to interrupt the circuit of the windings in response toa shifting movement imparted to the armature by the windingsrespectively.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow a descriptionof the accompanying drawing in the form of a schematic and fragmentarydiagram of the circuit and certain components.

The impulse start-stop circuit arrangement depicted in the drawingconstitutes the essence of the present 3,010,725 Patented Nov. 28, 1961invention, the other portions of the drawing serving merely toillustrate one of many ways in which the invention may be applied.

There is depicted in the drawing a frame 12 with respect to which acarriage 14 is movably mounted, the upper portion of the carriageproviding a fluted spindle member 16 on which a disc record 18 having aserrated central opening is impaled. A sound translating member 20having a stylus 22 is supported from the frame 12 by means of a beam 24for engagement with the surface of the record disc 18. A driving roller26 is carried by a driving shaft 28 for engagement with the lowersurface of the record disc 18. A pressure roller 30 is rotatablysupported by a lever 32 for selectively engaging the upper surface ofthe record disc 18 to render the driving roller 26 effective to rotatethe disc. In the position shown, the pressure roller 30 is elevatedabove the record disc under which conditions the driving roller 26 isineffective to impart movement to the disc.

The lever 32 has one end associated with an over center spring 34 whichwill maintain the lever and its pres sure roller 30 in either of theirtwo positions. -An intermediate portion of the lever receives a pivot 36about which the system can be moved under the influence of an arm 38received in the yoke 46 formed at the left end, as viewed in thedrawing, of the lever 32.

Translation of the carriage 14 with respect to the frame 12 may beeffected by means of a screw 42 cooperating with the carriage and with asuitable half-nut or substitute therefor as is already well known in theart.

The arm 38 is carried by an armature system 44, movable about a pivot45, having alternative positions imparted by a pair of electromagnets 46and 48. The electromagnet 48 has a winding 62, one end of which isconnected by means of a lead 64 to the upper contact 54 of a single poledouble throw switch 56. The other end of the winding 62 terminates in acontact 58 which is eng-ageable with a contact 60 carried by thearmature system 44 when the system assumes its lower position as opposedto that depicted in the drawing.

Similarly, the electromagnet 46 has a winding 50 whose one end isconnected by means of a lead 52 to the lower contact 66 of the switch56. The other end of the winding 50 terminates in a contact 68 shown inthe drawing as engaging a contact 70 carried by the armature system 44.The contacts 60 and 70 carried by the armature system are groundedthrough a lead 72. The common contact 74 of the switch 56 has a terminalconnected by means of a lead 76 to one terminal of a battery 78 whoseother terminal is connected to ground through a lead 80.

When the switch 56 assumes its stop position as shown, it may complete acircuit through the lead 64 and a conductor 81 to a load 82 whoseopposite terminal is connected to ground. The load 82 may assume theform of a resistor which may in fact be an indicating or signallinglamp. Similarly, when the switch 56 is shifted to its start position, itmay complete one or more circuits through its lead 52 to energize loadssuch as a motor 84 and an amplifier 86 connected to a lead 88. The motor84 is depicted as connected direct to ground while the amplifier isconnected to ground through an inductance 90. Such circuits and controlsare well suited for use with a battery powered sound translating machinewhere the conservation of current is important.

Upon reference to the drawing it will be evident that neither of thewindings 50 or 62 is in circuit with the battery 78. The switch 56 isdepicted as assuming its stop position. When it is desired to start thesound translating operation, the common contact 74 will be shifted fromthe upper contact 54 to the lower contact 66 whereupon a circuit will becompleted from the battery 78 through the lead 76, switch 56, lead 52,winding 50, contacts 68 and 70, lead 72, ground and lead 80 to the otherpole of the battery. This energization of the winding 50 ofelectromagnet 46 attracts the armature system 44 whose movement aboutthe pivot 45 effects opening of the contacts 68 and 70, whereupon thearmature system will assume its other position, closing the contacts 58and 60 preparatory to completing a circuit through the winding 62 of theelectromagnet 48 when the common contact 74 is shifted to its stopposition from the lower pole 66 to the uppere pole 54. Until the commoncontact 74 is shifted however, there will be no current flow througheither of the windings 50 or 62. Where the loads 84 and 86 are employed,their energization will continue so long as the switch 56 provides astart condition.

With the mechanism illustrated, when the armature 44 is shifted from itsstop position to its start position, the arm 38 will cause the lever 32to rotate clockwise about its pivot 36 to bring the pressure roller 30in contact with the upper surface of the record disc 18 and establish aneffective drive therefor. The over center spring 34 will maintain thepressure roller 30 in its lowered position until anew current pulseenergizes the winding 62 to restore the armature system to the positionshown in the drawing, whereupon counterclockwise movement of the lever32 will occur about its pivot 36 to elevate the pressure roller onceagain to its position depicted in the drawing.

Where the load 82 is present, it will remain engaged so long as theswitch 56 assumes a stop position. The load 82 will consume a very lowcurrent in such a case, such as would be required to provide a suitablesignal or indication. Where one or more of the loads 84, 86 and 99 arepresent, they will draw current only during operation of the equipmentat which times their function will be necessary.

The foregoing description will suggest modifications to thosejskilled inthe art contemplated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: I

1. In combination with sound translating apparatus having a frame, asound translating member, a record engaging member, a carriagesupporting one of said members for movement relative to the other,driving means for relatively moving said members, start-stop means forsaid driving means, means connecting said driving means to one of saidmembers and to said startstop means, and a source of current for saidstart-stop means; a pair of self deenergizing electromaguets having abistable armature system operatively connected with said start-stopmeans and alternatively imparting start and stop positions thereto, andswitching means actuated by movement of said armature system in circuitwith said current source and elec-tromagnets for alternativelyenergizing said electromagnets.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching meanscomprises a single pole double throw switch having a common contactconnected to said current source and contacts in circuit with thewindings of said electromagnets respectively alternatively engaged withsaid common contact.

3. A start-stop device for the drive means of sound translatingapparatus comprising an armature system mechanically coupled with saiddrive means and movable between two positions for activatinganddeactivating said drive means respectively,a pair of electromagnetsalternatively shifting said armature system from one of said positionsto the other, each electromagnet having a winding connected to one ofopposite poles of a single pole double throw switch,-said switch havinga common contact connected to a source of current for energizing saidwindings sequentially, and contact means actuated by said armaturesystem and in circuit with said windings to deenergize said windings inresponse to each shifting movement imparted to said armature systemby-energization of said windingsrespectively.

4. In combination with sound translating apparatus having a frame, asound translating member, a record engaging member, a carriagesupporting one of said members for movement relative to the other,driving means for relatively moving said members, means conmeeting saiddriving means to one of said members and to said start-stop means,-and asource of current; a pair of self deenergizing electromagnets having abistable armature system, switching means actuated by movement of saidarmature system in circuit with said current source and electromagnetsfor alternatively energizing said electromagnets, anda load circuitconnected in parallel with one of said electromagnets. I

5 The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein a load circuit isconnected in paralle-l'with each of said electromagnets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

